Egypt reaffirms support for Sudanese peace process

Text of report in English by Sudanese news agency Suna website, BBC Monitoring Middle East.

Set 1, 2005 (Khartoum) — Egypt has reaffirmed its full backing for the peace process in the Sudan, and president Husni Mubarak pointed out during his meeting with the First Vice-President and President of the Southern Sudan Government, Salva Kiir, that efforts initiated by Egypt would continue.

Foreign Minister Dr Mustafa Uthman Isma’il who accompanied the first vice- president told the Sudan News Agency upon return home, Thursday [1 September]. The minister pointed out that the first vice-president, Kiir, reviewed with Egyptian officials during the one-day visit bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

He said President Mubarak has extended an invitation to the first vice- president to come for a second visit to Egypt and stay longer to exchange views and meet with businessmen and investors for more exchange of views.

He said the first vice- president held talks with Egyptian Prime Minister and met with Arab League Secretary General as well as other Egyptian officials. He said the talks centred on the role Egypt could play to rally Arab support for rehabilitation and development of the south.

He said talks between the first vice-president and the secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Musa, centered on the convening of the Arab investors conference for backing and providing assistance for development and rehabilitation projects in Southern Sudan and it was agreed that the meeting would be held in February next year.

The first vice-president Kiir was received at the airport upon return by the vice- president Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha and a number of ministers as well as the members of the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum.